GENDER ISSUES AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Agriculture plays pivotal roles in the economy of Nigeria and other developing countries of the world. And these all-important roles are majorly played by smallholder farmers in Nigerian-rurals. A critical look at these roles show a sharp division of farm activities along the gender line. As roles, behaviours, opportunities, expectations and constraints are socially constructed within the social system. Gender draws attention therefore, to the socially constructed aspects of differences between women and men. This gender division of farm roles has been identified as a major factor constraining the attainment of food security in Nigeria. Studies have shown that, most technological policies in the agricultural sector are skewed towards menfolk; thereby making men as the real farmers while women are mere supporters. Despite an ostensible acknowledgement of gender in several agricultural extension services, policy makers often fail to meet or recognize the very different needs of men and women farmers, or the very different roles they may have in agriculture. This paper therefore reviewed literatures on gender issues in agriculture in Nigeria, specifically, the paper reviewed literatures on roles of women in agriculture; constraints to gender mainstreaming in agriculture; policies and programmes that mainstream women in Nigerian agricultural sector, and theories of feminism. The paper recommended that government should outlaw all forms of discriminatory practices such as land rights, patriarchal land ownership, among others against women.